Customer Reviews

Tiger's Eye

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has been on my list of favorite historical romances for years; I re-read it recently because I was getting burned out on the more recent offerings in the genre. It still stands out as a superior and fun read, full of action, adventure and romance.

My favorite part of the book is the hero, Alec Tyron. Alec is the "King of the London Underworld" (which, I agree, does not sound all that romantic)--a street orphan who has pulled himself up from the London gutters by virtue of his quick wits and good instincts. He is also loyal, gorgeous (that never hurts in a romantic hero!), amazingly sensitive and has a good sense of humor. He is a hard, self-made man with an endearing streak of insecurity (a la Derek Craven from Lisa Kleypas's "Dreaming of You".)

The heroine, Lady Isabella St. Just, is the sheltered, lonely, unwanted wife of a libertine earl who meets up with Alec when he "rescues" her from a botched kidnapping/murder attempt. The relationship of Alec and Isabella is very well developed and believable (but will *not* please readers who hate adultery in their romance novels). Neglected by her father and her husband, Isabella has come to regard herself as unattractive and unlovable, yet she is never a whiny victim. It is a pleasure to watch her blossom and gain confidence under Alec's protective care.

While "Tiger's Eye" is not a perfect book (Alec's profession is really *very* unsavory and dangerous and this is never truly addressed, and Isabella does a bit *too* much protesting at certain points in the book), it is a very well-written story with a fabulous hero and pretty hot romance. It is a definite *keeper* for me and I highly recommend it to readers who love historical romance.

I have read many books, as of yet, I have never read one as good as this! Tigers Eye is the most beautiful book you will ever read! The heroine Isabella, is kidnapped and meant to be "done away with", fortunately for her, Alec "the Tiger" Tyrone is the one who should be "doing away" with her. This is a cute and hilarious novel of "rich girl", meets "poor boy", although Alec is far from a Boy. Two people, who are as different as night from day, fall in love in this beautiful tale. Travel with them throughout England and Europe as we follow them into their deep love. You will laugh and cry with them, and you will be very sad when this book ends. You must read it to believe it. I recommend this book for all the romantics out there. You must meet Isabella and Alec (the dreamiest man alive). You will not be disapointed.

Along a dark highway Isabella St. Just is kidnapped by two dangerous men. She faces certain death until Alec "the Tiger" Tyron, notorious king of London's underworld, comes to her rescue. She soon finds out that Alec is an outlaw who is respected and feared throughout London. Her attraction to him shocks and scares her. She should be afraid of him, but she isn't. Even after seeing him kill the two men who had kidnapped her.

Alec Tyron doesn't like it when men in the city try to leave him out of their affairs. Everything has to go through him first and if it doesn't, the men die. He's a ruthless man, a man not to be crossed, but yet, he feels a tenderness towards the small country mouse.

Alec and Isabella hide out at the Carousel, one of the many brothels that Alec owns. Someone is after Alec, someone who knows things about him. And someone in Isabella's aristocratic life is out to kill her. Alec and Isabella find themselves falling in love with each other despite their differences. Both praying the day won't come when society rips them apart, never to be put back together........

I know that that isn't a very good review of the plot, but I don't want to give the whole story away, and if you're anything like me you don't want to read a long, boring plot summary. To put it simply, I love this book. It's very original and romantic and I could see why these two fell in love, not like in other "romance" novels where all the characters do is have sex and you finish it wondering how in the world they fell in love. These two actually talk to each other, laugh together, respect each other, and their love comes slowly. Like snow fall down from the sky. You can see the transition from hate to care to love. It's very refreshing to see this in a romance novel and I hope to see it more often.

The only problem I had with this book was Isabella committing adultery with Alec. But the way Karen wrote about their feelings for each other and Bernard's treatment of Isabella, I couldn't help but cheer them on. And hope against hope that Bernard would never catch up to Isabella. But time runs out for Isabella and Alec......

The last few chapters will make you cry and ache with the feeling that Isabella and Alec will never have a chance. But the last scene will touch every corner of you heart and bring a smile to your face. You'll close this book knowing that Isabella and Alec's love is the strong lasting kind, the kind that everyone wants. You'll laugh, you'll cry. Don't pass this book up, you'll regret it.

I absolutely loved Alec. He wasn't the traditional perfect hero, but so beautiful and sexy. Isabella was adorable, and you feel absolutely everything she does. In certain scenes you just have laugh aloud. These two are so wonderful together and you actually understand why they have fallen in love, which few other romance novels fail to do convincingly. The very last scene is mind-blowing.

This was my first romance book ever and It got me hooked on romances! I love how Alec falls in love with Isabella. The hero and the Herione are perfect for eachother; they each have horrible tempers, lol. The way Alec is described in this book makes you think of him as a Greek God let alone a human. But he is not thought of as a gentleman in his society as Isabella is thought of as a lady. He refers to himself as a gutter rat, he started his businesses from nothing but pure determination, which makes the reader like him even more. He is wealthy all by himself so you know he isn't after Isabella's money at all. He feels that he is not good enough for Isabella because of his upbringing, but he is so sweet and when he gets angry at her- he always means to punish her with a kiss, lol. I love how after Isabella and him first are together, he looks at pearl's (this is his mistress who he's had for a while) body without being moved by it at all, only Isabella really interested him now. JUST READ THIS BOOK! It is really good. It has romance and alot of action. And the romance between Alec and Isabella is so heartreanching and beautiful. I was so upset when Isabella was saying things to Alec that she knew would hurt him so that she could be noble and later he does the same thing. I admit that there was a scene at the end where Alec was with some people I didn't approve of, but no novel is perfect. This is the best romance I've read so far. Alec persues Isabella no matter how many times she tries to evade him; he just can't leave her alone until he knows she is safe; he even says he wants her around so that she can be his tutor. I find that so sweet that he can't be without her. Even though Isabella was married when she had an affair with Alec; it works and I don't feel sorry for the husband. You'll know why when you read it.

If you like this one, you'll also like Loving Julia by Karen Robards

This is simply the best of the best of romance novels. I have to read it at least once a year. I do wish Ms. Robards would write a sequel...soon!

The copy I have, I noticed was published in 1989. This is the first book that I've read by this author. I wish I had a frame of reference to either other books published at this time or other books by this author to give a better rating. I mostly read recently published works so this rating might not be the best, but how I feel this book worked for me. Now onto the book.

**********MAY BE SPOILERS BELOW. READ AT YOUR WILL********

The beginning was great. The setting was unique. Intriguing, a real page turner all the way up til Alec(hero) and Isabella(heroine) leave for Amberwood estate.

Then when they leave it seems to morph characters. Isabella was described as sensible, docile, and gentle, with a good head on her shoulders- as soon as Alec would kiss her she became a puppet. You got the feeling that as long as Alec was kissing her she would have agreed to anything, even murder. For bringing up adultery quite often she sure didn't seem to feel any shame, disgrace, or guilt. For Alec, he's supposed to be the king of London's underworld that clawed his way to the top, but he sure takes dumb risks. Like drinking what Isabella gave him without asking what it was or not locking his door with 3 attempts on his life.

On a similar note, Alec's situation between Pearl and Isabella-I wanted more to be done and said about it. Miss Robards at least wanted Isabella to think he had slept with Pearl, then her. Then again at the end, implying he would have slept with Dahlia. I got the feeling should their relationship wane in the future, Alec would not think twice about sleeping with someone else. Just something else I thought I should mention.

The last half of the book just left you shaking your head. Alec told Isabella he believed her husband was the one to try to have her killed, she thinks a couple months and money are enough to keep her safe and for her to think "it had grown increasingly more difficult for her to remember that Bernard had really, truly tried to have her killed.". So even her lover's belief isn't strong enough against Bernard's gentlemanly behavior to convince her. Did she think Bernard would give her a sign the next time he tried to kill her? How long did Isabella believe Alec and her could live without a problem in their love nest?

I, also, felt the book ended too soon. I wanted to know where they would live, the Blakely townhouse or a slum? What about there children- reared street wise or to become members of the ton? Would Alec continue his "job" as king of the underworld?

On one hand, I appreciated that this was not a cookie cutter period romance. And yet it left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. It's not the adultery, but the fact that the hero is the man through whom all the murders for hire, gambling, and prostitution in London must go. As he tells Isabella at one point, if her kidnappers had gone through the "right channel," he wouldn't have batted an eye at her murder. Yes, he has a vague sort of moral compass (not hitting women, etc.), but I don't find that it makes up for his greater flaws. As a previous reviewer said, his unsavory career is never really addressed, which I find unsettling.

I've read and reread this book countless times because the story is everything you want a romance to be. There is adventure, heartache, humor and sexy love scenes. The story is timeless and you can't help falling for the main characters. Love this book! One of the few romance novels I don't consider trite and predictable. If only there were more like this one...

ahhhhhhhhh how do i love this book? Let me count the ways. I love Alec and Isabella's romance. I love how Isabella isn't the typical idea of beauty.. but how he falls in love with her strength, and her personality and how he brings this sparkle to her that makes her undeniably beautiful. More importantly, I love how real the romance between them filled. This and Loving Julia are my favorites of her historicals (so far)... Read it!!!